Henrico County, Virginia, USA
1854 - Henrico county

Henrico, hen-ri'co, a county towards the S. E. part of Virginia, has an area of 280 square miles. The James river forms its boundary on the S. W., and the Chickahominy on the N. E. The surface is diversified by hills of moderate height and declivity, presenting abrupt precipices along the banks of the rivers. The soil, with small exceptions, is light and inferior. Wheat, Indian corn, oats, hay, cotton, and butter are the staples. In 1850 this county produced 1 1:1,044 bushels of wheat; 266,011 of corn: 83,832 of oats; 2196 tons of hay; 338 bales of cotton, and 66,615 pounds of butter. There were 32 tobacco factories, 10 flour and grist mills, 4 chandleries, 1 paper mill, 1 iron foundry, 4 coal mines, 5 saw mills, 1 iron forge, and 4 machine shops. It contained 44 churches, 15 newspaper offices ; 859 pupils Attending public schools, and 1123 attending academies and other schools. The dividing line between the tertiary and primary formations passes through the county, large quantities of bituminous coal are procured in the western part. The falls of James river, at Richmond, afford extensive water-power. The James river and Kanawha canal has its eastern terminus in this county, and three lines of railways connect with each other at Richmond, namely, the Richmond and Danville, the Richmond and Petersburg, and the Richmond and Potomac. Henrico is the most populous county in the state. Richmond is the county seat and capital of Virginia. Named in honor of Prince Henry of England, son of James the First. Population, 43,572, of whom 27,463 were free, and 10,109, slaves.

A New and Complete Gazetteer of the United States: Giving a Full and Comprehensive Review of the Present Condition, Industry, and Resources of the American Confederacy ... Thomas Baldwin (of Philadelphia.) Joseph Thomas January 1, 1854 Philadelphia : Lippincott, Grambo & Company 1854.

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